Takoma Beverage Co. Taps Into Everything

Takoma Beverage Co., a combination coffee shop and bar pieced together by two first-time restaurateurs, is now mixing up drinks and offering pour-over service in Takoma Park, Md.

The all-day cafe and drinking establishment comes from cousins Chris Brown and Seth Cook, who previously worked at similarly themed Northside Social in Arlington, Va. Sonja Eberly, another Northside Social alum who’s currently working at a vineyard in New Zealand, serves as sommelier. Sehkraft Brewing alum Drew Lemberg is the resident beer director.

Total capacity at this neighborhood eatery is pretty modest, with eight seats at the bar, a couple stools along the front window, and a scattering of tables. There’s also a curbside patio.

The caliber of caffeine is pretty high; a custom espresso machine built for the restaurant is fed a strict diet of Counter Culture Coffee. The main bar hosts 10 draft lines and serves up a full slate of signature cocktails. A front counter with a white quartz top features a display case and is stocked with pastries and other impulse buys.

The menu was composed by yet another Northside Social alum, Bar Civita chef/owner Liam LaCivita. Offerings include the Spicy Pig ($7), a breakfast sandwich featuring fried pork belly, maple sage hot sauce, poached egg, and cheddar, while the midday menu includes an “All Kale” Caesar salad($8), and evening ushers in a lineup of tartines ($8-$10).